Board game apparatus

ABSTRACT

A new and improved game for entertainment and educational purposes where players evaluate and assess relative risks and merits of alternative paths of movement from a starting location to a home base position during play of the game. Playing tokens assigned to the players move from the starting location to the home base position in a sequence of numbers of moves specified in a random sequence by a play determining means. The players may move their playing tokens along alternate travel paths which have different numbers of movement steps, but the probability of occurrence in the play determining means of the lesser number of moves is less than that of the higher number of moves so that the players must evaluate and assess the relative risks and merits of movement along the alternate travel paths.

[451 July 15,1975

1 1 BOARD GAME APPARATUS [76] Inventors: Lee 0. Dykes, Jr.; Lillian H. Dykes,

both of 9021 Gaylord, No. 91, Houston, Tex. 77024 [22] Filed: Sept. 16, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 506,320

[52] US. Cl. 273/134 D; 273/134 D [51 Int. Cl. A63f 3/00 [58] Field of Search 1. 273/134 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,242,969 10/1917 Parker 273/134 D 2.977.713 4/1961 Alelyunassuu... 273/134 D UX 3,807,739 4/1974 Henley et a1. 273/134 AF 3.834,709 9/1974 Lamb 273/134 AD FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,249,898 11/1960 France 1, 273/134 D Primary Examiner-Delbert B. Lowe Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Pravel & Wilson [57] ABSTRACT A new and improved game for entertainment and educational purposes where players evaluate and assess relative risks and merits of alternative paths of movement from a starting location to a home base position during play of the game. Playing tokens assigned to the players move from the starting location to the home base position in a sequence of numbers of moves specified in a random sequence by a play determining means. The players may move their playing tokens along alternate travel paths which have different numbers of movement steps, but the probability of occurrence in the play determining means of the lesser number of moves is less than that of the higher number of moves so that the players must evaluate and assess the relative risks and merits of movement along the alternate travel paths.

9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures BOARD GAME APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to games for entertainment and educational purposes.

2. Description of Prior Art There is no prior art known to applicants to be relevant to the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the present invention is in the form of a new and improved game where the players of the game evaluate and assess the relative risks and merits of alternative paths of movement or travel to a desired goal during play of the game. Each player of the game is assigned a set of playing tokens which are to be moved across a game board from a starting location, for which movement begins, to a home base position where all playing tokens must be placed before a player completes play. A plurality of dice determine play and randomly specify one of a set of numbers of moves permitted a player during his playing turn.

A plurality of alternate travel paths connect the starting location and the home base position, and the travel paths have different numbers of movement steps between the starting location and the home base position which thus require different numbers of travel moves. The number of moves in the alternate travel paths is related in that the higher number of travel moves have a higher probability of occurrence than the lower number of travel moves in the alternate paths, requiring the players to evaluate and assess the relative risks and merits of movement along the alternate travel paths. The players must in effect select a higher risk lower probability, shorter travel path or a lower risk or higher probability, longer travel path.

To further increase difficulty of assessment of the relative risks and merits of travel along the alternate travel paths, special zones are formed along at least one of them where playing tokens may be captured, added plays of the play determining dice gained, or playing tokens forced to return to a previous position. Also, the dice are allocated into groups to define the number of moves of at least two playing tokens, so that a player must assess and evaluate the alternate moves of his playing tokens.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved game for entertainment and educational purposes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a plan view of the game board ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a playing token suitable for use with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a die suitable for use as a play determining die with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawings, the letter G designates generally the game structure of the present invention for entertainment and educational purposes where players evaluate and assess relative risks and merits of alternate paths of movement on the game board B (FIG. 1) of playing to- 2 kens T (FIG. 2) under control, as will be set forth, of a play determining means, preferably in the form of a set of dice D, one of which is shown in the drawings (FIG. 3).

Considering the game board B more in detail, a plan view thereof is set forth in the drawings (FIG. 1). The game board B may be mounted with a tabletop by suitable mounting means, or with other suitable surfaces. When mounted with a tabletop, the game board B may be reversibly mounted with the supporting structure of the table, if desired, so that the opposite side thereof may be used for other purposes.

The game board B has formed thereon a starting location or area S for a plurality of players, in the pre ferred embodiment four. It should be understood, however, that the number of starting locations S may be greater or less, if desired, and that any number of two or more players may play the game, in teams of two or more, if desired. As play of the game proceeds, players move playing tokens T from their assigned starting locations S in a 360 counterclockwise movement from such starting location S about the game board B to a home base position H adjacent the starting location S. During such travel, the playing tokens T move past the starting locations S and home base positions H of the other players of the game.

During play of the game, the players advance their respective assigned playing tokens T from the assigned starting location S to the home base position H over alternate travel paths, as will be set forth. Each of the players is assigned a plurality of playing tokens T, typically seven, although other numbers of playing tokens are also suitable for use. The playing tokens T are shown in the preferred embodiment as discs, although other structures such as coins, cubes, or other tokens may be used, if desired. The playing tokens T may be colored or otherwise suitably identified to distinguish them from playing tokens of the other players.

Each of the alternate travel paths between the starting location S and the home base position H is in the form of a plurality of movement steps or squares. During play of the game, movement of the playing tokens T of player is governed by the number of moves specified by the numbers indicated on the dice in the play determining dice set D. In the preferred embodiment, five dice are used in the play determining dice set D. The dice in the set are conventional throwing dice so that the number shown on an upper surface after the dice are cast specify one of a set of numbers of moves permitted to a player during his playing turn. Since the dice in the dice set D are conventional, the number specified after each cast is a randomly chosen one from the set, with the probability of occurrence of this number being determined by the mathematical laws of probability. Accordingly, the dice set D determines play by randomly specifying one of a set of numbers of moves permitted each player during his playing turn. As will be set forth, only selected of the playing tokens T of a player may be moved during a turn of play.

Considering now the alternative travel paths formed on the game board B, entry thereto from the assigned starting location S of a player for each of the playng tokens T of such player is had into an entry or safety movement step 10. After entry at the entry safety step 10, the playing tokens T are moved counterclockwise with respect to the game board B through a number of movement steps specified by the number of steps on the play determining dice D. Once a playing token T has been moved from the starting location S, such playing token is in play" and susceptible to capture by other players unless on a safety movement step. Capture takes place when the advancing playing token of an opponent moves the exact number of steps required to arrive at the movement step where the playing token to be captured is located. When captured, the playing token so captured is returned to its starting location S from which it must start movement again towards the home base position H about the game board B.

At a fourth movement step from the entry safety step is a triangular-shaped corner turn movement step 12, at which a right turn is made during movement of the playing token T. Three movement steps from the turn movement is a second safety step 14.

After four further movement steps, two triangularshaped turning movement steps 16 and 18 are reached by the playing token T, followed by a triangular safety movement step 20. Each of the playing tokens T of the players proceeds from its assigned starting location S in a counterclockwise direction over the path set forth above to the first triangular safety movement step 20.

A first crossover connection or CAUTION" step 22 is the next step after each of the safety movement steps 20. At the first crossover connection step 22 and at each of the succeeding crossover connection steps 22 reached by the playing token T during counterclockwise travel about the game board B, alternate travel paths formed on the game board B are presented to the player, requiring that the player evaluate and assess the relative risks and merits of movement along the alternate travel paths for movement from the starting location S to the home base position H during play of the game.

During play of the game, it is preferred that the player be required to allocate the playing movement specified among the play determining dice D among two of his playing tokens T selected for movement, with one group of set of two dice defining the movements of one of the two playing tokens T, and the remaining group or set of three dice defining movements of the other of the two playing tokens T to be moved. It should be understood, however, that this requirement is subservient to certain special exceptions, based on the count of the dice thrown. as will be set forth below. Further, the selection of which two of the five dice belong in the first group and which of the three dice belong in the second group or set, as well as which tokens are to be moved, is a decision to be made by the player, further requiring evaluation and assessment of the relative risks and merits of movements along the alternate travel paths across the game board B.

An EIGHT OPENS THE GATE" inside turn step 24 is located eight movement steps from the crossover connection step 22. In the event a count on one of the sets of two or three dice indicates a count of eight while a token T is moving between the steps 22 and 24, the player may move such playing token T to the inside turn movement step 24. If the count is less than eight, the token is moved this count of steps from the step 22. From the inside turn movement step 24, a first travel path begins at a triangular inside track movement step 26, known as a STRAIGHT step 26 for reasons to be set forth.

Movement from the STRAIGHT step 26 proceeds along the first path in a sequence of 17 movement steps to the next right turn corner step 12 in the counterclockwise path about the game board B and from therein a sequence of II steps to the next crossover connection step 22, depending on the count of one of the two sets of the play determining dice D thrown. There is no requirement imposed that any special number or combination of dice, other than the allocation into two sets in the manner set forth, be shown on the play determining dice D to permit such movement. Thus, by taking the inside step at each of the four crossover connection steps 22, a player may elect to move his playing tokens T over a relatively high number of movement steps, but with no requirement that a special combination be present on the play determining dice D defining movement. Thus, relatively minor movement restrictions are imposed when this inside travel path with a relatively large number of movement steps is chosen.

As an alternative to the inside travel path with its relatively large number of movement steps, but correspondingly few movement constraints, a player may elect, for example if a total greater than eight is shown on one set of the dice, to proceed through a movement step 28 along an alternate travel path. Once a playing token T is on this alternate travel path past the movement step 28, on the first pair of dice in a set of two being a like number, the playing token T may be moved to a FIRST DOUBLE" movement step 30. Further, this alternate travel path includes a RETURN TO CAUTION movement step 32 located three movement steps beyond the movement step 28, which if reached by a playing token T on the last move of a count specified by a group of the play determining dice D requires that such playing token be returned to the "CAUTION movement step 22. However, a FREE THROW movement step 34 is one step further beyond the RETURN TO CAUTION" step 32. If a playing token reaches the FREE THROW" movement 34 as the last step of a count. an additional throw of the play determining dice D is granted to the player assigned such playing token, illustrating the risks and merits of selecting this alternate travel path over the relatively longer, relatively safer inside path set forth above.

A RETURN TO THREE OF A KIND movement step 36 is located one movement step beyond the movement step 34, which if reached by a playing token T on the last step of a count specified by a group of dice requires that such playing token be transferred to a THREE OF A KIND movement step 38, which can also be reached by another alternate travel path to be set forth below.

Three movement steps beyond the movement step 36 is an ADVANCE TO SECOND DOUBLE" movement step 40 which if reached by a playing token T on the last step of a count specified by a group of the play determining dice D permits a playing token to be advanced to a SECOND DOUBLE" movement step 42. Unless movement step 40 is reached at the end of a count, the playing token T may not advance to the movement step 42 until a first set of dice in the set of two bear like reference numerals, at which time the playing token may be moved to the FIRST DOUBLE" movement step 30.

Once the playing token T is on the FIRST DOU- BLE" movement step 30, the playing token T can only be moved to the SECOND DOUBLE" movement step 42 when a second pair of like dice are rolled as the set of two in the play determining dice D. Similarly, movement from the SECOND DOUBLE" movement step 42 to a THIRD DOUBLE" movement step 44 may take place only when a third pair of like dice are rolled as the set of two in the play determining dice D. Again, this illustrates the risks and merits of selecting this alternative travel path over the relatively longer, inside path set forth above.

Yet another alternative travel path for movement of the playing tokens T from the CAUTION step 22 is available if the set of three dice in the play determining dice D each bear a like number. If this optional path is chosen, the playing token T is moved to the THREE OF A KIND movement step 38. From the movement step 38, the next movement step is the THIRD DOU- BLE" movement step 44. To move from the movement step 38 to the THIRD DOUBLE movement step 44, a pair of like dice must be rolled as a set of two in the play determining dice D. As can be seen, on this alternate travel path, relatively few movements are required to reach a similar position as reached by the preceding travel path. However, the probability of occurrence of the required numbers in the play determining dice D is a much lower probability than that under either of the preceding two travel paths, again illustrating the risks and merits of selecting this alternate travel path over the other two travel paths.

On reaching the THIRD DOUBLE" movement step 44 through either of the two outsidde travel paths in the manner set forth, a count oftwo" or three" must be present on the set of dice D before movement can take place. In this event, the playing token on the THIRD DOUBLE step 44 is moved to an ADVANCE TO STRAIGHT" reward position 46 either through a two step movement via a movement step 52 or through a three step movement via the step S2 and a next adjacent step 53, whereupon the playing token T is advanced to the next STRAIGHT" position 26 and is thus moved into the inside path for the next travel path in the sequence of movement from the starting location S to the home base position H.

Again, it is to be noted that in contradistinction to the inside path, either of the two outside travel paths require specific combinations of dice be thrown in specific sequences for movement therealong.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that as the player moves his playing tokens T from the starting location S to the home base position H, a plurality of crossover connection or CAUTION" points 22 and alternate travel paths are presented to the player, at each of which a player must evaluate and assess the merits and risks of movement along the alternate travel paths, bearing in mind the possibility and danger of capture of this other playing tokens T then on the game board B.

At each of the four CAUTION" points 22, the player may elect to travel along one of the three alternate travel paths during this counterclockwise travel around the playing board B.

Once on the chosen alternate travel path from the fourth CAUTION" point 22, the player moves his playing token to the home base position H over a homeward bound travel path whose course depends upon the travel path chosen at the CAUTION" point 22. When on the inward alternate travel path through the EIGHT OPENS THE GATE inward movement step 24, the playing token takes a 90 right turn at a turn movement step 48, from which it is an eleven movement step homeward path to the home base H, ten to a turn-in step 50 with the final step into the home base position H. When the playing token T is on the homeward movement path from the turn movement step 48, it is not susceptible to capture by an opponent.

When on the other two of the alternate travel paths, after reaching the THIRD DOUBLE" movement point 44, the playing token T must be moved by a count of three or four on one set of the dice cast, entering the home base position H from the turn-in step 50 on the fourth step via steps 53, 52 and 50, or on the third move directly from the movement step 50 via steps 52 and 50.

When a playing token is on the homeward course from the THIRD DOUBLE movement step 44, it is susceptible to capture by opponents in contradistinction to the other homeward movement path.

In either of the homeward courses set forth above, the exact number of movement steps required to reach the home base position H must be present on one of the two ses of dice in the play determining dice D.

To further assist in refining strategy and movement analysis, a player may form a block, preventing the playing tokens of opponents from movement therepast by moving two of his playing tokens T onto a particular movement step on the game board B.

As a further requirement that a player assess and evaluate risks and advantages of alternate travel paths, certain movement reward zones are formed on the game board B, so that a player may advance a playing token T, or a plurality of them, as the case may be, as will be set forth, thereto directly when a particular combination of numbers are present on the play determining dice D cast by the player. When this event occurs, the player may move the specified number of his playing tokens T to be set forth below to the next movement award zone of the type reflecting the dice combination he has thrown, notwithstanding the particular travel path along which such playing token T is cur rently moving, and further notwithstanding any blocks formed along the path of movement of this playing token T by his opponent. In addition, the player making a throw of the dice entitling him to a movement reward receives a second dice throw, and may move any other one of his tokens then in play one-quarter turn of the game board B.

The throws of dice and corresponding movement award zones are as follows:

a. FULL HOUSE" where three of the five dice cast are alike, and the other two dice are alike, but different from the other three, movement of one playing token to the next FULL HOUSE" movement reward zone is permitted, which movement reward zone in the preferred embodiment is coincident with each of the four homeward turn movement steps 48;

b. STRAIGHT where the five dice are five numbers in sequence, movement of one playing token to the next STRAIGHT movement reward zone, which is the movement step 26, as has been set forth;

0. FOUR OF A KIND" where four of the five dice thrown are alike numbers, movement of a playing token to a FOUR OF A KIND movement reward zone 54 next in sequence along the travel path is pennitted.

When FOUR OF A KIND or two DOUBLES" are thrown on four of the dice, and the fifth dice is an ace" or one," player may bring any two of his playing tokens T from wherever they are located on the game board B directly to the home base position H.

When all five dice are like numbers, a player may bring any five of his playing tokens T from wherever they are located on the game board B directly to the home base position H.

In playing the game G of the present invention, the players (however many there may be) place their playing tokens in their respective starting location 8 and select a player to be first to play by any suitable means, such as the highest throw of the dice. Play then proceeds with the players moving selective ones of their playing tokesn T in a counterclockwise manner from the starting location in accordance with the number of moves specified by the dice. When a playing token T reaches the crossover connection point 22, the player must evaluate and assess the relative risks and merits of movement of such playing token along the alternate travel paths for movement, taking into consideration the relative position of the other of his playing tokens, the relative positions of the playing tokens of opponents, and other factors of play. Play continues in this manner until a first player has moved each of his playing tokens into the home base position,

It should be understood that play may be made by partners, with a player moving either his own playing tokens or those of his partner in accordance with the most advantageous strategy of the game at that particular time.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size. shape and materials as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

I. A new and improved game where players thereof evaluate and assess the relative risks and merits of alternative paths of movement to a desired goal during play of the game, comprising:

a. playing token means assigned to each player for movement by the assigned thereto player;

b. play determining means for randomly specifying one of a set of numbers of moves permitted each player during his playing turn; and

c. a game board across which said playing token means are moved by the players as play of the game proceeds, said game board having formed thereon: 1. a starting location in which said playing token means are stored and from which said playing token means begin movement across said game board;

2. a home base position to which said playing token means are moved by the players to complete play; and

3. a plurality of alternate travel paths connecting said starting location and said home base position, said alternate travel paths including:

(i) a first travel path connecting said home base position and said starting location, said first travel path having a first number of movement steps requiring a first number of travel moves of said playing token means to reach said home base position from said starting location; and

(ii) a second travel path connecting said home base position and said starting location, said second travel path having a second number of movement steps requiring a second number of travel moves of said playing token means to reach said home base position from said starting location, said second number of travel moves in said second travel path being greater in number than the first number of travel moves and movement steps in said first travel path but having a higher probability of occurrence as one of the set of numbers of moves specified by said play determining means, wherein the players of the game must evaluate and assess the relative risks and merits of movement along said first and second travel paths for movement from said starting location to said home base position during play of the game.

2. The game structure of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second travel paths includes:

a capture zone formed on one of said movement steps thereof wherein playing token means of a player stationed thereon may be captured by playing token means of other players moving thereto.

3. The game structure of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second travel paths includes:

a reward zone formed one of said movement steps thereof wherein a player receives an additional play of said play determining means when said playing token means of the player is moved to said reward zone.

4. The game structure of claim I, wherein at least one of said first and second travel paths includes:

a return zone formed on one of said movement steps thereof wherein playing token means of a player moving thereto must return to an earlier movement stop when said playing token means is moved to said return zone.

5. The game structure of claim 1, wherein said playing tokens means comprises:

a plurality of playing tokens assigned to each player, each to be moved by the assigned player from said starting location to said home base position during play of the game.

6. The game structure of claim 5 wherein:

said play determining means comprises a plurality of dice cast by a player to define the number of moves permitted the player during his playing turn, and further wherein a first group of said plurality of dice define the number of moves permitted a first one of said plurality of playing tokens assigned the player and the remainder of said plurality of dice define the number of moves permitted a second one of said plurality of playing tokens assigned the player.

7. The game structure of claim 6, wherein at least one of said first and second travel paths includes:

a movement reward zone formed on one of said movement steps thereof wherein playing token means of a player may advance thereto when a particular combination of dice is cast by the player during his playing turn.

8. The game structure of claim 1, wherein said plurality of alternate travel paths formed on said game board includes:

a third starting travel path connecting said home base position and said starting location, said third travel path having a third number of movement steps requiring a third number of travel moves of said playing token means to reach said home base position from said starting location, said third number of movement steps in said third travel path being less in number than said first number of movement steps and said second number of movement steps but having a lower probability of occurrence as one of the set of numbers of moves specified by said play determining means.

9. The game structure of claim 1, wherein said plurality of alternate travel paths includes:

a. plural sets of alternate travel paths connecting with each other in a sequence to connect said starting location and said home base position, each of said alternate travel paths including:

1. a plurality of alternate travel alternate paths said starting location and said home base position, said alternate travel paths including:

(i) a first travel path connecting said home base position and said starting location, said first travel path having a first number of movement steps requiring a first number of travel moves of said playing token means to reach said home base position from said starting location; and

(ii) a second travel path connecting said home base position and said starting location, said second travel path having a second number of movement steps requiring a second number of travel moves of said playing token means to reach said home base position from said starting location, said second number of travel moves in said second travel path being greater in number than first number of travel moves and movement steps in said first travel path but having a higher probability of occurrence as one of the set of numbers of moves specified by said play determining means, wherein the players of the game must evaluate and assess the relative risks and merits of movement along said first and second travel paths for movement from said starting location to said home base position during play of the game;

b. crossover connection zones formed at each connection between said plural sets of alternate travel paths, wherein a player may be changed to a different travel path during movement from said starting location to said home base position during play of the game.

* i k k 

1. A new and improved game where players thereof evaluate and assess the relative risks and merits of alternative paths of movement to a desired goal during plaY of the game, comprising: a. playing token means assigned to each player for movement by the assigned thereto player; b. play determining means for randomly specifying one of a set of numbers of moves permitted each player during his playing turn; and c. a game board across which said playing token means are moved by the players as play of the game proceeds, said game board having formed thereon:
 1. a starting location in which said playing token means are stored and from which said playing token means begin movement across said game board;
 2. a home base position to which said playing token means are moved by the players to complete play; and
 3. a plurality of alternate travel paths connecting said starting location and said home base position, said alternate travel paths including: (i) a first travel path connecting said home base position and said starting location, said first travel path having a first number of movement steps requiring a first number of travel moves of said playing token means to reach said home base position from said starting location; and (ii) a second travel path connecting said home base position and said starting location, said second travel path having a second number of movement steps requiring a second number of travel moves of said playing token means to reach said home base position from said starting location, said second number of travel moves in said second travel path being greater in number than the first number of travel moves and movement steps in said first travel path but having a higher probability of occurrence as one of the set of numbers of moves specified by said play determining means, wherein the players of the game must evaluate and assess the relative risks and merits of movement along said first and second travel paths for movement from said starting location to said home base position during play of the game.
 2. The game structure of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second travel paths includes: a capture zone formed on one of said movement steps thereof wherein playing token means of a player stationed thereon may be captured by playing token means of other players moving thereto.
 2. a home base position to which said playing token means are moved by the players to complete play; and
 3. a plurality of alternate travel paths connecting said starting location and said home base position, said alternate travel paths including: (i) a first travel path connecting said home base position and said starting location, said first travel path having a first number of movement steps requiring a first number of travel moves of said playing token means to reach said home base position from said starting location; and (ii) a second travel path connecting said home base position and said starting location, said second travel path having a second number of movement steps requiring a second number of travel moves of said playing token means to reach said home base position from said starting location, said second number of travel moves in said second travel path being greater in number than the first number of travel moves and movement steps in said first travel path but having a higher probability of occurrence as one of the set of numbers of moves specified by said play determining means, wherein the players of the game must evaluate and assess the relative risks and merits of movement along said first and second travel paths for movement from said starting location to said home base position during play of the game.
 3. The game structure of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second travel paths includes: a reward zone formed one of said movement steps thereof wherein a player receives an additional play of said play determining means when said playing token means of the player is moved to said reward zone.
 4. The game structure of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second travel paths includes: a return zone formed on one of said movement steps thereof wherein playing token means of a player moving thereto must return to an earlier movement stop when said playing token means is moved to said return zone.
 5. The game structure of claim 1, wherein said playing tokens means comprises: a plurality of playing tokens assigned to each player, each to be moved by the assigned player from said starting location to said home base position during play of the game.
 6. The game structure of claim 5 wherein: said play determining means comprises a plurality of dice cast by a player to define the number of moves permitted the player during his playing turn, and further wherein a first group of said plurality of dice define the number of moves permitted a first one of said plurality of playing tokens assigned the player and the remainder of said plurality of dice define the number of moves permitted a second one of said plurality of playing tokens assigned the player.
 7. The game structure of claim 6, wherein at least one of said first and second travel paths includes: a movement reward zone formed on one of said movement steps thereof wherein playing token means of a player may advance thereto when a particular combination of dice is cast by the player during his playing turn.
 8. The game structure of claim 1, wherein said plurality of alterNate travel paths formed on said game board includes: a third starting travel path connecting said home base position and said starting location, said third travel path having a third number of movement steps requiring a third number of travel moves of said playing token means to reach said home base position from said starting location, said third number of movement steps in said third travel path being less in number than said first number of movement steps and said second number of movement steps but having a lower probability of occurrence as one of the set of numbers of moves specified by said play determining means.
 9. The game structure of claim 1, wherein said plurality of alternate travel paths includes: a. plural sets of alternate travel paths connecting with each other in a sequence to connect said starting location and said home base position, each of said alternate travel paths including: 